Drowning Prevention: Global Insights and School-Focused Solutions

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Drowning ranks as one of the leading causes of accidental death worldwide and its numbers are rising, driven by climate change and risky behavior. This issue featured prominently in a one-day program at the Elder Museum of Science and Technology in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where experts from around the globe gathered to discuss and analyze water safety and prevention on World Drowning Prevention Day.

The gathering brought together notable figures such as Joost Bierens (Netherlands), José Palacios (Spain), David Szpilman (Brazil), Roberto Barcala (Spain), Adrián Petrini (Argentina), Luis Miguel Pascual (Spain), David Whiddon (Great Britain), Xavier Archimbault (Monaco), Ana Catarina Queiroga (Portugal) and Sebastián Quintana (Spain).

Participants confirmed that water-related accidents are on the rise due to climate change and carelessness. The consensus emphasized a growing risk and a need for targeted public messaging that reaches diverse population groups to raise awareness of the situation, a point highlighted by Ana Catarina Queiroga, recently appointed representative of the World Health Organization.

Las Canteras beach, located in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, was noted as a focal point for the discussion. The event explored how laws and political empowerment in education and infrastructure serve as levers for prevention while underscoring the role of communication, prevention, and professional training as essential tools to curb fatalities in aquatic settings. Adrián Petrini, head of the La Matanza High Institute of Lifeguards in Argentina and Swimming Chair, joined José Palacios, President of ADEAC Blue Flag Spain, in stressing these priorities.

“A rescuer’s instrument is the rescuer’s own body,” Petrini remarked, underscoring the importance of physical readiness and training in lifesaving efforts.

The key is in schools

Roberto Barcala, a doctor of sports sciences and nursing with a focus on child and youth water safety education, stressed the imperative of reaching schools regularly and engaging all social actors in prevention efforts.

Szpilman highlighted Brazil’s alarming numbers, noting that 17 people drown each day and stressing that enforcement of existing regulations is crucial. He warned that real global fatalities could be far higher than reported, potentially reaching up to 1.5 million annually when all data are accurately captured.

World Health Organization figures estimate roughly 370,000 drowning deaths worldwide each year, though Quintana, who organized the Canarias 1500 Km de Costa platform, pointed out that data collection varies and can mask the true scale of the problem.

In a dedicated campaign presentation, the Canarias initiative was showcased as a step toward broader prevention. The event’s organizers and partners emphasized a coordinated strategy aimed at reducing drownings across political, educational, and social spheres.

Experts AETSAS director Pascual and Bierens underscored the need for a joint approach that intertwines policy, education, and community action to cut the incidence of water-related injuries. The panel also included David Whiddon, director of international maritime rescue services at the RNLI, and Xavier Archimbault, who leads children’s water safety education projects for the Princess Charlene Foundation of Monaco. They agreed that no country currently has comprehensive legislation to regulate, minimize, and prevent drowning, signaling a shared call for stronger, actionable measures across nations.

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